Wi-Fi Alliance considers smart grid standards

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Wi-Fi Alliance considers smart grid standards

By CAROLINE GABRIEL

Published: 12 November, 2009

READ MORE: US | Standards | Wi-Fi

The adoption of smart grid systems by utilities - with wireless networks used to monitor customers' meters and equipment and deliver services - is gaining ground. While cellcos are forming alliances to ensure such grids run over their 3G and future networks, WiMAX and Wi-Fi have also been early beneficiaries. Smart grid specialist RuggedCom recently acquired WiMAX vendor WiNetworks, and the Wi-Fi Alliance sees such an opportunity that it is looking at a new set of standards for the market.

The Alliance has formed a new taskgroup to decide which of its standards need to be modified to ensure Wi-Fi takes a central role in smart grid applications. The organization today released a report called 'Wi-Fi for the smart grid: mature, interoperable, security protected technology for advanced utility management communications'. This looks at the places in the ecosystem where WLans can play a role, such as smart meters and other appliances, home area networks, and integration of smart grids with cellular systems. Home networks are a particularly interesting area as utilities - and governments wanting to cut power consumption - look beyond metering to applications such as remote control of a full home or neighborhood energy and security system.

The report also details how the standards being established by the US Department of Energy for smart grids might affect Wi-Fi platforms, and argues that appliance manufacturers will be more willing to come to market with wireless products if they have open global standards for those devices to communicate with one another and with wide area networks. It cites Whirlpool, which has a smart appliance in the works but wants to wait for such standards.

Google, as usual, has a hand in the emerging use of wireless in smart grids, but its PowerMeter unit is working on a UK-based system that uses short range standard ZigBee, rather than Wi-Fi. This does away with the need for dedicated smart meters. It partners with AlertMe, whose ZigBee-based system, according to CNet News, relays information between a wireless hub that plugs into a home's broadband connection, smart plugs throughout the house, and an electric meter monitor.